90,92,94,96Zr(,d) and (,d′) reactions at E = 16.0 MeV and the behavior of the elastic vector analyzing power at E = 12.0 MeV

Abstract Cross-section and vector-analyzing-power measurements have been carried out for the elastic and inelastic scattering of 16.0 MeV deuterons from 90,92,94,96 Zr. The data have been analyzed using the coupled-channels formalism assuming a vibrational-model form factor. The elastic scattering data are well reproduced by the calculations. For the 2 1 + and 3 1 − one-phonon states, the data are fairly well fitted by the calculation except at back angles. The elastic-scattering data for the four isotopes are very similar in shape, unlike the observations at a bombarding energy of 12.0 MeV. Analyses of the two-phonon states in 92,94 Zr suggest that a considerable amount of the scattering strength of these states arises from their one-phonon component. Inclusion of transfer channels in the coupling scheme was found to have only a marginal effect on the predictions. Utilizing the information obtained from the analysis of the 16 MeV data, a coupled-channels analysis was carried out for the 12 MeV data from the literature. The measurements, including the “one-signed” behavior of the elastic vector analyzing power, are well reproduced by the calculations. The results of the analyses show that the previously unexplained “one-signed” character is a bombarding-energy-dependent effect and can be reproduced if proper reaction mechanisms are incorporated in the calculations.